101 years in jail for drugs gang

Shaymas Ulhaq Credit: West Midlands Police

Members of a drugs gang who supplied heroin, cocaine and cannabis on an "industrial scale" have been jailed for a total of 101 years, after their network was brought down.

Detectives from West Midlands Police found drug safe houses, cannabis factories, and an extensive chain of dealer phones, allocated names such as "The T Line", such as to take orders and text advertisements for the Birmingham gang.

The kingpin was Shaymas Ulhaq, from Handsworth. He oversaw six cannabis grows - one of which had a £150,000 yield operating from the back of a tyre firm in Erdington. He also managed a group of drug runners and farmers.

The 32-year-old was stopped by police in a car in July 2014, and they found he we wearing a diamond-encrusted ring and a jewel-laden watch, with £1000 cash in his pocket.

He claimed to be a successful car dealer, but analysis of his phone found regular contact with numbers linked to the gang, and instructions showing he was in charge.

The gang operated for at least 14 months from March 2014 to May 2015. Other lead players in it included Masoud Ali, Mohammed Rahman-Harries, brothers Narinder and Sandeep Kandola, Azim Thakur and Wayne O Connor.

Clockwise from top left - Masoud Ali, Mohammed Rahman-Harries, brothers Narinder and Sandeep Kandola, Azim Thakur and Wayne O Connor. Credit: West Midlands Police

This week a total of 15 people were jailed at Birmingham Crown Court, including an 18-year sentence for Ulhaq, who was found guilty of cinspiracy to supply heroin cocaine and cannabis.

Other sentences:

  • Masoud Ali - 11 years

  • Mohammed Rahman-Harries - nine years

  • Narinda Kandola - 12 years

  • Dandeep Kandola - 11 years

  • Azim Thakur - 10 years

  • Wayne O'Connor - seven and a half years

  • Jamie Hadley - five years

  • Lee Williams - four years

  • Duane Butlin - one year

  • Adam McGuinness - three years

  • Stephen McGuinness - three years

  • Shazad Hussain - 42 months

  • Mobasser Hussain - 27 months

  • Omar Ayaz - one year

Clockwise from top left - Jamie Hadley, Lee Williams, Duane Butlin, Adam McGuinness, Stephen McGuinness, Shazad Hussain, Mobasser Hussain, Omar Ayaz Credit: West Midlands Police

Police raids included the uncovering of a drug dealing factory, including 50 wraps of heroin and blocks of crack cocaine, and the Kandola brother's home in Edgbaston in June 2014.

Cannabis factories were found in Erdington, Kingstanding, Handsworth and Hockley - six in total.